Printing Day Pictures

On October 17th we held a day for mutual elightenment. Jacob Weiss and Bart Saxton once again shared their tools and experience to provide us with the opportunity to try our hands at block printing.

We began by drawing out designs, transferring them to our blocks, carving them carefully with block carving tools, inking the finished blocks, and finally printing!

- Teresa Ebert carving a fleur de lis.
Gary Jensen examining the block press -

- (Above) botanical and bestiary prints carved by Anna and Laura Schuster.

- (Below) The only real wood block print made during the day, carved byBart Saxton . A very large print of the Rivenwood Tower
device .

New Calendar

Our Herald and All Powerful Calender Goddess, Melanie Wing, has used her terrifying powers and created a calendar that all can access! Previously, only those on the Shire's Yahoo email list could access the Shire Calendar. We bow before her unfathomable computer powers and great goodness. (Here, regardless of bad knees, you must grovel appreciatively and strew flowers over her golden sandals.) http://frontiernet.net/~smwing/shireCal.html

Printing Day

We will be doing some block printing Saturday, October 17th, at 1:00pm in Prahl's shop. http://www.rivenwoodtower.org/

Thank you to the Prahl's for the generous and consistent use of their home for shire activities!

Fin

History Fest is done! It was a good weekend albeit there occurred some unpredicted eventualities. The clay oven met with an accident and needs to be rebuilt. Jacob Weiss was my willing clay pit vassal until the temperatures plummeted and ice and snow dampened any zeal in that area. The crowds were also a little less enthusiastic because of the temperatures than in years past but cheerful nonetheless. Linda Prahl's great cauldrons of steaming soup every day kept everyone going. Ulfr, my favorite viking, joined us expecting a special pizza made in the oven and was cruelly disappointed by his biggest fan! (I will make one in the new oven!) Melanie Wing had a fantastic heraldic display, new this year. Gary Jensen demonstrated chain mail making inside a tent out of the weather. Bart Saxton hammered out coins this year and spread yet more "Bart Coins" throughout southern Minnesota.

We were happy to have such wonderful guest fighters! Antoline and son (many apologies for forgetting your name - but the handsome young man with the long dark hair and lovely voice) assisted in the fighting and impressed the bundled spectators. Thank you for coming! You are lovely guests!

Well, it snowed, the animals escaped only three times, the oven broke, and I forgot to bring back the big hot water kettle every day! No one was injured, no tempers flared - that I observed - and we actually were able to get a shire group picture! Not at all a bad History Fest!

History Fest Set Up

Because of the rain and because the oven was only being moved yesterday, early set up has been forgone. Tomorrow, Wednesday October 7th, looks as if it will be a fine day. I will be assessing the state of the oven, digging pit kilns, and setting up an animal pen and therefore will be on site for a good portion of the day. Contact the seneschal if you wish to help. mailto:seneschal@rivenwoodtower.org

Jack McGowan's Farm is open all day and evening to reenactors setting up. The SCA site is down near the river in the same location as the past two years. (Look for a clay and stone oven.) Tent set up will need some helping hands. To contact Mike Prahl if you wish to help put up the Shire tent and three of the Prahl's tents or to find directions to Jack McGowan's go to: http://www.rivenwoodtower.org/

There is a planned layout so contact the seneschal before setting up any tent or semi-permanent edifice.

Help will be greatly appreciated!

Anna Schuster

A Word On Feast Gear or Thrift Store Archaeology

So, what is feast gear? Feast gear is your very own period appropriate mess kit. Oh my, you may think. No, don't be intimidated. Feast gear is as elaborate or as basic as you want it to be. Where do I get feast gear? There are many web sites that cater to medieval enthusiasts but what I am recommending here is quicker, easier, and cheaper for your first gear or to replenish your dwindling feast box. Check out your neighborhood thrift store. What? Yes.

Here is a list of easy things to pick up for your first feast gear kit.

Small wooden salad bowls - Wooden bowls have been in use since the dawn of time!

Small metal trays - They make great plates and are a good fake pewter "trencher".

Aluminum steins - They really aren't period but are better than a plastic tumbler and they don't break easily.

Your Ren Fest Goblets and Mugs - Great!

Silverware - These are a little more difficult to find pieces that look period so don't feel embarrassed if you just grab some out of the drawer at home - just bring some!

Two of the basic things you need to get off and running in the SCA are appropriate garb and your own feast gear. Other people bring their own and very rarely have some to offer the negligent or forgetful. It is a fairly easy acquisition and a point of pride to enjoy a period meal off of your "thrift store" archaeology!

History Fest

History Fest is this week, October 8th, 9th, and 10th at Jack McGowan's Farm.
We will be doing the following demo's:
Armored Combat
Chain Mail Making
Coin Making
Rope Making
Baking in Clay Oven
Pit Kilns
Wheat Grinding
Heraldry
Flint and Steel Fire Lighting
Barnyard Animals
and
Open Fire Cooking - Which will feed all Rivenwood and Oubliette participants and Guests. Bring your feast gear!!!

Please come any or all days. Thursday and Friday 8:3o am - 2:30 pm. Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

For Directions to Jack McGowan's Farm or to contact the seneschal go to: http://www.rivenwoodtower.org/

No Armory This Week

There will be no armory this week because all will be setting up for History Fest.

Winter Business Meeting Location

Beginning in November, monthly business meetings will be held at Jack McGowan's. The location will be which ever heated building is available. If the weather is unsafe for travel then the meeting will be postponed for a later date. The meetings will be held the first Sunday of the month at 2:00pm.

Business Meeting Change!

The Business Meeting Will Be Held At Prahl's on account of the weather! http://www.rivenwoodtower.org/ for directions.

October Business Meeting

The October Business Meeting is Sunday, October 4th. It will be held in Robinson Park, Lake Crystal Mn. 56055 at 5:00pm.

Turn off Hwy 60 onto Main St. by the DQ into Lake Crystal. Follow main street and turn left at the bank onto Robinson Street East. Follow Robinson St and turn left onto Logan or a block further onto Grove Street. Both streets take you into Robinson Park. We will meet in the picnic shelter. Look for the shire banner. (pictured)